Rotatable toy

ABSTRACT

A thin, rigid sheet member shaped as a disk has a volute inscribed thereon. An aperture sized to accommodate a human finger therethrough is located at the origin of the volute. In an alternate embodiment, the sheet member is shaped as a volute.

United States Patent [1 1 lue I ROTATABLE TOY [75] Inventor: Walter L.Blue, Mesa, Ariz.

[73] Assignee: Herbethon Toy Corporation, Mesa,

Ariz.

[22] Filed: Sept. 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 398,481

[52] 11.8. Cl..... 46/47, 46/49, 46/51 [51] Int. Cl A6311 1/22 [58]Field of Search 46/47, 49, 51

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,804,260 5/1931 Kerr 46/473,071,891 1/1963 Stippick 46/47 Jan. 14, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 2,746 0/1915 Great Britain 46/49 Primary Examiner-Louis G.Mancene Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, orFirm-William H. Drummond; Gregory J. Nelson; Don J. Flickinger [57]ABSTRACT A thin, rigid sheet member shaped as a disk has a voluteinscribed thereon. An aperture sized to accommodate a human fingertherethrough is located at the origin of the volute. In an alternateembodiment, the sheet member is shaped as a volute.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 1 41975 SHEEF 10! 2 ROTATABLETOY This invention relates to toys.

More particularly, the invention relates to rotatable toys which createoptical illusions.

In a further aspect, the invention concerns a toy which is rotatableabout a human finger for amusement and development of manual dexterity.

Toys which spin and have designs thereon to create optical illusionsduring rotation are well known. A typical toy of this type has a wheelwhich is fixed at the center thereof to a shaft. The shaft is rotated bya gear mechanism receiving power input from either a hand crank or agear rack. Colorful designs upon the wheel create a profusion of coloror optical illusions as the wheel spins to enhance the amusement qualityof the toy. In a more sophisticated version, the toy is provided with aflint for producing sparks which appear to radiate from the spinningwheel.

Such toys, being mechanically driven, are exceedingly simple tomanipulate and the user can develop maximum proficiency almostimmediately. However, since neither the imagination nor the manipulativeskill of the user is challenged,the toy generally does not sustaintheinterest of the user. i

It would be highly desirable, therefore, to provide a rotatable toywhich would sustain the interest of the user.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention toprovide a rotatable toy which would require continued development ofmanual dexterity for increased proficiency of operation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a rotatabletoy which will afford increased amusement by challenging the imaginationand creativity of the user.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a toywhich is rotatable about thefinger of the user and is caused to rotateby the finger.

Yet still another object of the invention is the provision of arotatable toy having an unbalanced axis of rotation.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a toy ofthe above type which creates an optical illusion during rotation andwill create an alternate'optical illusion when the direction of rotationis reversed.

Yet a further object of the invention is the provision of a toy of theabove type which is durably constructed, yet is relatively simple andinexpensive to manufacture.

Briefly, to achieve the desired objectives of the present invention inaccordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, first provided is asubstantially thin, rigid disk. Means defining an aperture within thedisk are spaced from the center thereof and sized to accommodate a humanfinger. Indicia upon the face of the disk defines a volute having theorigin concurrent with the aperture. In an alternate embodimentthereof,.a substantially thin, rigid sheet member is shaped as a voluteand has means defining an aperture at the origin of the volute. Thevolute may be modified to have a corrugated cross-section.

The toy is caused to rotate by an undulatory movement of the finger thatthe user has inserted through the aperture. With the development ofdexterity, the user can control the speed and direction of rotation. Asthe toy spins, the volute gives the illusion of expanding orcontracting, depending on the direction of rotation,

while the rate of expansion or contraction is in relation to the speedof rotation. By employing ambidextrous skills, the user can rotate onetoy with each hand, either in the same or different directions to createinteresting displays.

When the finger is held in the vertical direction, the toy has atendency to rise in response to increasing speed. This phenomenasuggests games that may be played by one or more players. For example, asingle player may impart sufficient speed to the toy to cause it to risefrom his finger and subsequently catch the toy upon his finger as thespeed decreases, while maintaining the rotation of the toy. In a similarmanner, the toy may be passed from one player to another.

The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages ofthe present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled inthe art from the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotatable toy constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the pres ent invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the toy of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another alternate embodiment of the toy of thepresent invention.

Turning now to the drawings, in which the same reference numeralsindicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attentionis first directed to FIG. 1, whichshows a rotatable toy of the presentinvention constructed from a substantially thin, rigid sheet member 10.A volute 11 is embossed upon the sheet member 10, leaving a flat innerportion 12 between the coils of the volute. An aperture 13 at the originof the volute is sized to accommodate a human finger therethrough.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the volute 11 is corrugated in cross-section toenhance the rigidity of the toy and the aesthetics thereof. An integralbead 16 forms a rim around the toy for further rigidity and also toprotect the user against the edge of the relatively thin sheet material.A similar bead 17, having the same function as the bead 16, encirclesthe aperture 13.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the toy in which the sheetmember 30 is shaped as a volute. An aperture 33, sized to accommodate ahuman finger therethrough, is located at the origin of the volute.Although not specifically herein shown, the volute may have a beadextending around the perimeter thereof, while another bead circumscribesthe aperture 33.

In another embodiment of the toy, as specifically seen in FIG. 4, thesheet member 40 is a flat circular disk having indicia such as dye orpaint, which defines a volute 41 thereon. An aperture 43 is located atthe origin of the volute4l.

Due to the geometric configuration, a volute is not symmetrical orbalanced about the origin. Therefore, as is apparent in the drawings,the aperture is spaced from the center of gravity of the sheet member.Al-

- though the toy could be constructed with the aperture toy-may berotated about objects other than the human finger. The user maychallenge his imagination and dexterity by employing any shaft member towhich he can impart the proper motion.

While no exact method or material of fabrication is specificallydescribed in connection with the detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that various materials and methods consistent with themanufacture of toys are available. A preferred material is a plastic,such as polyethylene, which has been injectionmolded. To create anattractive visual display, the sheet member is preferably a neutralcolor, such as white'or yellow, while the volute is contrasted in one ofthe so-called hot colors, such as green, pink or orange.

Various other modifications and variations of the embodiments hereinchosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilledin the art. The outer shape or perimeter of the toy may be altered toresemble other planed geometric figures, including ovals, triangles andsquares. The use of two or more concurrently wound volutes will providea faster spiral for increased speed of expansion or contraction asthetoy rotates. Similarly, the aperture may be provided with a separatehub rotatable with the toy or, alternately, about which the toy rotates.

Having fully described and disclosed the invention and the preferredembodiments thereof in such clear and concise terms as to enable thoseskilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the inventionclaimed is:

l. A rotatable toy having an unbalanced axis of rotation adapted to bemanipulated by movement of the finger for developing manual dexterityand creating optical illusions, said toy comprising:

a. a substantially thin rigid sheet member;

b. means defining an aperture within said sheet member, said aperturebeing sized to accommodate a human finger therethrough to provide anaxis of rotation for said sheet member; and

c. indicia defining a volute upon the face of said sheet member, saidaperture being concurrent with the origin of said volute, and said sheetmember having an outer edge defined by said volute.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein said volute portion of said sheet memberhas a corrugated cross-section.

3. A rotatable toy having an unbalanced axis of rotation adapted to bemanipulated by movement of the finger for developing manual dexterityand creating op tical illusions, said toy comprising:

a. a substantially thin rigid planar volute; and

b. means defining an aperture within said sheet member at the origin ofsaid volute, and sized to accommodate a human finger therethrough toprovide an axis of rotation for said volute.

4. The toy of claim 3, wherein said volute has a corrugatedcross-section.

1. A rotatable toy having an unbalanced axis of rotation adapted to bemanipulated by movement of the finger for developing manual dexterityand creating optical illusions, said toy comprising: a. a substantiallythin rigid sheet member; b. means defining an aperture within said sheetmember, said aperture being sized to accommodate a human fingertherethrough to provide an axis of rotation for said sheet member; andc. indicia defining a volute upon the face of said sheet member, saidaperture being concurrent with the origin of said volute, and said sheetmember having an outer edge defined by said volute.
 2. The toy of claim1, wherein said volute portion of said sheet member has a corrugatedcross-section.
 3. A rotatable toy having an unbalanced axis of rotationadapted to be manipulated by movement of the finger for developingmanual dexterity and creating optical illusions, said toy comprising: a.a substantially thin rigid planar volute; and b. means defining anaperture within said sheet member at the origin of said volute, andsized to accommodate a human finger therethrough to provide an axis ofrotation for said volute.
 4. The toy of claim 3, wherein said volute hasa corrugated cross-section.